Call-recording system for telephone-exchanges.



E. E. CLEMENT. CALL RECORDING SYSTEM FOR TELEPHONE EXCHANGES. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 21, 1905. xmmwnn 001215. 1912.

1,089,394, Patented Mar. 10, 19m

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

E. B. CLEMENT. CALL RECORDING SYSTEM FOR TELEPHONE EXCHANGES. APPLIOATION FILED, NOV. 21, 1905. RENEWED 001215 1912. 1,089,394 Patented Mar. 10, 191i 3 BHEETS-SHEET 2.

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B. E. CLEMENT. CALL RECORDING SYSTEM FOR TELEPHONE EXCHANGES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV, 21, 1905. RENEWED 0CT.15. 1912.

m mm Mm w M3 w a P R m 9 EM a 9 8 W O m 1 w UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICli EDVARD E. CLEMENT, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE TELEPHONE IMPROVEMENT COMPANY, OF ATTICA, NEW

OF NEW YORK.

YORK A CORPORATION CALL-RECORDING SYSTEM FOR. TELEPHONE-EXCHANGES.

Application filed November 21, 1905, Serial No. 288,367.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 10, 1914. Renewed October 15, 1912. Serial No. 725,927.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD E. CLEM arm, a citizen of the United States, residing at "ashington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful [mprovements in Call-Recording Systems for Telephone-Exchanges, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

My invention relates to call recorders for telephone exchange systems, and has for its object the production of a recorder of this class which will record the number of a calling line, and will indicate the fact that the line called has answered or not. Preferably this call recorder is associated with some portion of the. central office connective apparatus, and operates therefore in con" junction with any one of a plurality of subscribers or other lines.

Briefly stated, the invention is as follows: In a common battery telephone exchange system each cord circuit is provided with a recorder which is normally inactive, but starts up as soon as the cord is connected to a line, continuing its motion until a switch arm connected to the recorder reaches a terminal associated with the line, whereupon the recorder stops with a printing wheel having the number of that line exposed in printing position. At. the same instant a printing magnet is actuated to produce an impression of the number upon a tape or card. \Vhen the wanted subscriber answers, the supervisory relay, temporarily associated with his line, works a second printing magnet to produce a special mark opposite the number on the tape, whereby the record shows the fact that the call was answered. 'hen the plug are finally pulled by the operator the recorde is rcadv for another operation, the paper or card being fed forward. but the switch arm remaining in any position in which it may happen to-bc.

The nu-chanical features of my invention include the recorder itself and a method of mounting a plurality of recorders for an exchange. The mounting is preferably in iron racks, of the same type that are commonly employed fcr relays in telephone cX- changcs generally. It is made of sulficient height to take a number of the recorders vertically, and these slid in on edge, in grooves, like rows of books in a book case.

Each recorder comprises a supporting plate or frame, with a flange, upon which, is carried a paper roll and an inking device. The flange determines the width of the space to be occupied by the entire recorder mechanism, and the frame carries the type wheel, printing magnet. ratchet wheel and step magnet, all housed within this space. The paper ribbon or tape feeds in through a slot in the flange. under the type wheel u pon guide rollers and so out, a feed roller controlled by the printing magnet serving to send it forward, step by step, 'as the device is operated.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a diagram showing two subscribcrs line circuits and a central ofiice connecting circuit with a recording device attached thereto. Fig. 2 is a front view of the switch showingi'arious working parts and necessary attachments. Fig. 3 is a rear view of the switch showing the contact banks and wiper arms. Fig. 4 is an end view of the switch. Fig. 5 is a view of a portion of the frame with the recorders in place.

Referring to Fig. 1, A and A are two subscribers stations shown as connected to a multiple switchboard wired up in accordance with the well known standard scheme of two-wire multiple. Each substation equipped with apparatus usual in common battery systems, which consists of a transmitter T. receiver R. hook Tl. ringer Q and condenser C. The line-wires from the two ubstations terminate in a central office in similar apparatus. and therefore only one need be described. The line-wires I and E2 extend from the sub-station to the contacts a. n, of the cut-off rclav N. where thcv are normally extended. the first to the line relay M. and the -sccond to ground. \Vhen the relay N is energized the line wires 1 and E? are extended through to the contacts. 7'. j of the answeriug-iack J b the wires 3 ind i. The ccrd circuit consists of the an v-.'cring-plug l. whose tip 7) is c nnected to the tip 77 of the callingplug P, by the strand 7, condenser C, and strand 9. The

' present practice.

sleeve p o" the plug P is connected to the sleeve 19 of the *plug P by the strand 8, condenser C and strand l0. Bridged across the strands? and 8 is a pair of supervisory relays S, S, which jointly control the supervisory lamp .9. Bridged across the strands 9 and 10 are the two supervisory relays S and S jointly controlling the lamp .9

All of the arrangement so far described is old and well known, having been largely used in common battery installations. I have shown my invention in connection with this circuit because it happens to be a convenient system for illustration; but I do not wish to be limited thereby nor am I limited in practice to any particular type of system. My invention is well adapted for any of the common battery systems now known and used.

The type of switch I have chosen to illustrate is that employed quite commonly in automatic exchange systems according to Its essential features are a spindle carrying two contact wipers and rotating to move said wipers over a series of fixed contacts arranged in a circle having a greater or smaller dimension according to lo number of contacts. The circle with its contacts is called a bank or contact bank. The spindle is rotated by means of a ratchet wheel mounted on it and a pawl vibrated by an electro-magnet. This spindle has no idle or normal position, that is the wiper can rest on any contact, for when the switch itself is idle thcre is no connection of any kind with. the wiper. Mounted on the spindle is a type wheel fixed so that when the wiper rests upon any particular linecontact the number of that line on the type wheel will be opposite the tape.

Referring now to Fig. 1, Z is the selector switch having a spindle a mounted for revolution in a footstep but which may and practically will be in practice horizontal. On this spindle are mounted the collars s and z, carrying the. wipers 2" and 2 respectively, which extend out radially so as to sweep over the circle of contacts as the spindle rotates. At the upper end of the spindle is a type wheel 1). bearing on its peri 'ihery type numbers or characters raisezl in relief, there being a number or character on the wheel corresponding to each line having a multiple contact in the bank swept over by the wipers. Opposite the type wheel is a. printing magnet \V shown as a solenoid magnet with an iron shell and a central plunger carrying the armature w at one end and the printing platen we at the other. Betw en the platen and the type wheel liesv the tape .1 i' d t "mi a roll or spider X. as

shown abo the wheel. down between the friction or it roll.-,-: w." and m The feed of it tiw ir rned by th printing magi. in. illustrated ii for sim:

plicity, this is accomplished by means of a spring extension arm e0 attached to the armature and provided with a hook or toe which catches int-o teeth on the periphery of the feed-wheel w.

The circuits of my switch are very simple, and the connections to the cord and linecircuits are made without altering or interfering with any of their parts. Taps are taken off the sleeve side of each line and carried to the multiple contacts in the switches of its particular position, there being one switch to each operators cord-circuit. The taps are also taken off the cord-circuit as follows: one from each of the normally opened contacts f the sleeve answering and calling supervisory relays, and one from the normally closed contact of the tip calling supervisory relay which forms one terminal for the supervisory lamp. These taps are the only necessary wires to be connected, no changes being made" in the cord-circuit in any other way.

Referring now to Fig. 1 the sleeve side f the line No. 4 is onnected in multiple to the contacts of the switches in its position by the wire 30. The contact 8" of the relay 8 is connected to one terminal of the relay S, the other terminal being connected to ground. The contact 8 of the relay S is connected to one terminal of the magnet W the other terminal bein grounded. The contact 8 of the relay S 1s connected to one terminal of the magnet W", the other terminal being grounded. The relay S, whose circuit is controlled by the relay S, jointly controls the stepping magnet S and also connects one terminal of the relay S to ground. Q connected to the wiper .2 actually picks out the calling line to which the cord circuit is connected. The relay S connected to the wiper 2 acts as a test relay, that is in passing over a row of contacts and resting on those which are busy it becomes energized, attracts its armature, disconnecting the relay S from its wiper .2 This is done to prevent the subscribers who are talking from receiving annoying clicks as the wiper 2" passes over its contacts. \Vhen a line is busy its test contact 2 will be grounded, thereby operating the relay S as the wiper .2 comes in contact with it. The magnets is jointly This relay S which is normally controlled by the relay S and the relay S w and held rigidly in place by the block to. The tapper w when operated upon the called subscriber answering his telephone strikes the tape and prints some character so as to show that the called subscriber has answered. The rinting magnet V can only become energized when the relay S is operated upon finding the calling line.

The operation of my system is as follows: Subscriber A in callin closes the circuit of the relay M through t e contact of the cut off relay N closing the local circuit of the line lamp m which glows. The operator upon perceiving the signal inserts the answerin plug P into the jack J. The windings o the relays S and N are now connected in series. The relay N becoming energized attracts its armature, disconnects the line relay M which in turn extinguishes the line lamp m. The line wires 1 and 2 are now connected to the springs j and j respectively of the jack J through the contacts of the cut-off relay N and the extensions and 4. The relay S becoming energized attracts its armature and would cause the lamp 8 to glow, but the relay S becoming energized at this time opens the lamp circuit. The circuit of the relay 8' is now closed by the following path: battery B, 40, 12, 11, 41, 8 s", 13, S to ground. This relay becoming energized attracts its armature and closes the circuit of the stepping magnet S by the following path: battery B, 17, 8 8 16, G, which is the interrupting machine, S", 24, 8", s, to ground. The magnet-S now operating causes the shaft 2 to rotate and the wipers 2 and 2 to pass over the contacts in the bank. The circuit of the relay S", which picks out the calling line, is now connected from the wiper z to ground by the following ath: 22, s s 8 S '18 8 s to t e'ground. In passing over the contacts the wiper e in restin on one which is grounded or busy imme iately closes the circuit of the relay S which attracts its armature, opens the contacts 8 and s disconnecting the relay S from the wiper 2 thus preventing the subscribers from receiving a click. The wiper 2 which is connected to ground through the relay S in passing over contacts which are not busy s mply finds grounds through the cut-off relay N while the wiper e in passing over contacts that are not busy finds no connection whatever, so the spindle keeps rotating. However. when the wiper 2" finds a contact on which there is battery the relay S immediatel be comes energized and disconnects the stepping magnet S. Suppose for instance the wiper in passing over therow rests on tln contacts leading to the line to which the cord-circuit is connected, the circuit of the relay 9 would therefore be closed by tlufollowing path: ground. 8", s, 18, S 27,

8 8 19, s 8 22, 2 2 30, 4, j, p, S, 41, 11, 12, 40, to battery B. This relay now becoming energized attracts its ar natures, closes the contacts 8 and s before breaking the contacts 8 and 5- thereby lock ing itself by the following path: B, 40, 17, 20, a, 8 S l8, 8 8 to ground. It also opens the contacts a and s disconnecting the stepping magnet S and closes the contacts 8 and s" placing a ground on the test wiper .2 and from there to the contacts 2 making them busy. The circuit of the rinting magnet \V is now also closed by tlie following path: B, 40, 17, 20 s s 27, 26, W to ground, and becoming energized presses the tape against the type wheel D and printing thereon the number of the calling line. In the mean time while the switch is operating the operator opens her listening key and asks the number wanted in the regular way. Upon finding the mun-- ber desired sheplmes the calling plug I" into the jack J of the wanted line and rings in the ordinary manner. The insertion of this plug places the relays S and N in ries. The relay N attracting its armature disconnects the line relay M and connects the line wires to the springs j and j of the jack J. The relay S becoming energized attracts its armature and closes the circuit of the lamp .9 causing it to glow. The circuit of the magnet \Y is closed by the fol lowing path: B, 40, 12, 11, 41, s s 1:), \V to ground. The circuit of the magnet is also closed through the contacts 8 and s" of the relay S The called subscriber upon answering closes his line circuit and energizes the relay S which attracts its armature extinguishing the lamp 8 notifying the operator that he has answered. The circuit of the magnet \V is also broken and the hammer aw which has been held by this magnet is released and under the tension of the spring w strikes the tape and prints thereon a character which shows that the called subscriber has answered. \Ve now have on the tape a record showing the number of the calling line and also that the party that he called answered. Suppose the called party did not answer; the operator after a reasonable length of time would take down the connection and the magnets W and W would become deenergized at. the same time and the armature 10 of the magnet would engage the spring to and prevent the tappcr w" from striking the tape. thereby preventing a record of a call being.answered when the party called for did not respond, in other words the only time the record could be made for an answered call would be when the magnet V was energized and the magnet \V' deenergized. This can only happen when the calling plug is in the jack and the called party answers. At the end of the conversation 5. connected to the wiper 2 and all the other side of the plate. On the flange O is a supthe operator upon getting the disconnect! signal withdraws both plugs from the jacks opening the circuit of the relay S which in turn releases the relay S which is again parts of the switch are restored to their normal positior The mechanical parts of my recording device are shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5. It will be noticedthat the form shown in these figures is not the same as that shown in Fig. 1 but it Will be understood that either of the forms of the device may be used in connection with the recording system. Referring to these figures, O is the frame or side plate having the front flange O. The bank contacts of the recorder switch are mounted on one side of the plate,- and the working mechanical parts, including the ratchet wheel and printing wheel, are mounted on the same spindle on the other porting bracket carrying the spool X for the paper roll or tape at This tape is fed in throu h a slot in the flange 0', over the guide ro ler to other guide rollers w, w and 10 th feed roller w, and the friction roller 10 and so out through another slot, which is preferably a little out of line with the paper roll, for a reason which will presently be mentioned In Fig. 3 I have shown the bank contacts. The spindle a extends through the plate from side to side, and carries the wiper arms .2 a, which play over the line contacts 2 and 2, shown in Figs. 3 and 4. These are preferably German silver terminals ,clamped between brass plates by screws 2*", and insulatedby means of the inter osed rubber or fiber rings 2 2" and 2 t 1e outer ring 2 being of b "ass. Upon the other side of the. plate 0 the spindle z is journaled in the bracket H, inside of which it carries the type wheel I), and outside of the bracket carries the ratchet wheel 2. This ratchet wheel is stepped around by means of a pawl Z pivoted at 6 on the lever L, adapted to be attracted by the stepping magnet S, which is mounted on a bracket a secured to the plate 0. The stop 8 is provided for the pawl Z to limit its play in the forward direction. and the lever L is provided with a retractii'ig spring Z which normally holds it. against a back stop 1 comprising a thumlrs rew threaded into a post I and provided with a lock nut f. The printing magnet \V is mounted on a bracket 0/1 and has its printing arm '10, carrying the platen 10 pivoted at 'w, with a retracting spring 10 Upon 'the armature of this magnet is secured a spring pawl which takes int ratchet teeth on the feed roller to, so that each time the magnet is energized the paper is fed forward one step. The reason I prefer to have the slot throughl the middle line, is that when the recorders are all mounted up in the rack the paper tape coniing out should be allowed to fall clear of the paper feeding in. This, however, is not essential. An opening in the flange 0 receives a plus, with a handle R,- and on the inner end of this plug I mount an inking roll 7, composed of felt or other material saturated with printers ink. In Fig. 5 is shown a section of the frame as it appears when all the recorders are in place. It will be observed that an attendant or inspector can walk along in front of the rack and tell at a glance the condition of the paper rolls, whether the paper feed is working right, and by pulling out the plugs R can inspect the condition of the ink rolls. He can also watch the tapes to see if the numbers are being properly printed, and all this without taking any of the machines from the rack.

Many changes will doubtless be made in this apparatus, and some changes in the circuits, during commercial use, and While I have described the best embodiment I have thus far found for my invention, it is, of course, to be understood that I recognize and consider all non-essential changes as within the scope of the invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Iat out is:

1. In a call recording system for telephone exchanges and the like, a plurality of lines to be interconnected, means for inter connecting the same, a recording member carrying indicia corresponding to the cir cuits over which calls are to be recorded, means for moving said member, controlled in making connection with a calling line, and means for effecting a record when the recording member has been moved to expose the indication of the particular line with which connection has been so eifectet'li. and means for disabling the device for all other positions and for all other lines, whether calling or not.

2. In a telephone exchange system, a plu rality of lines, means for interconnecting the same, and a recording s v-f.m therefor, comprising a driven type in i, l cooperating printing magnet. a m i r lll1lf,l"ll"i. a starting relay energized wlnu nnect;

eil'ecled with a calling line and 1 a relay energized lo-n the ti w lli'li been moved to expose an hall. :itzon clan-- sponding to the rmrticular lie" in whim connect ion has been ell'r- Wu.

In a telephone wi y-Hang. ralixy 01'' lines. n u i'm' the same. and. .1 r 0.1 111: compri-ine a i hr u-i= dlc carr ing :1 hsc av; .l .1K; arm. contact banks to! an? l arm ronlaimng which the paper passes out to one side of terminals for a plurali\ of lines, each ccn- 5 with changes nected so as to have its when its line is calling, motor for the switch, a starting magnet for the motor, connections for said starting magnet completed for its energization when commotion is effected with a line. and a stopping magnetfor the motor connected to the switcharm and energized when the latter touches the contact of the line with which connection has been established.

4. In a telephone exchange system, a plurality of lines, means for interconnecting the same, and a recording system therefor, co1npotential raised prising a selector switch associated with a connective circuit, a spindle for said switch carrying a printing member and a contact arm, a. series of line-contacts adapted to be swept over by said arm, lincnumeral characters on said printing member corresponding in position with the line contacts, so as to be brought into printing position when the switch-arm rests upon their respective contacts. a motor for the switch, a controlling magnet for said motor, means whereby said controlling magnet is energized to start the switch upon connection being effected a line. means the switch-arm rests on the contact of the line with which connection has been established, and means to prevent interference with other busy lines.

register system for telephone eX- and the like comprising a selector switch and a recorder associated therewith, line-contacts and test-contacts in said switch, a motor for the switch a connect-ivecircuit, a starting magnet for the motor taking current through said connective circuit when the same is connected with a line, a stop ping magnet connected to a switch-arm cooperating with the line-contacts, and adapted to become energized when its switch-arm rests on the contact of a busy line, and a test or guard magnet connected to'a switch-arm cooperating with the test contacts and acting to disable the stopping magnet when its arm rests on a busy line-contact of any other line than that with which the associated connective circuit is in connection.

6. In a telephone exchange system, a plurality "of lines, means for interconnecting the same and a recording system therefor, comprising a selector switch having a motor, a recording member, a. line-testing member, and a busy-testing member, together with means to start the switch when connection is established with any particular line, means to stop the switch upon rea hing a line which tests busy, and means to disable the stopping means for any other iine than the particular line which is being sought.

7. In a telephone exchange system,a plurality of lines, means for interconnecting the same and a recording system therefor comto stop the motor when I prising a selector switch having bank contacts associated in pairs one contact of I each pair connected to a particulamine, and ,"the other normally disconnected, means to change the condition of the line contacts I when their lines are busy. means to more l the selector'switch to test the pairs of con tacts in succession, and to stop the switch when a busy contact is found, and means to test the test-contacts in succession and to disable the stopping means when a busy testcontact is found other than that of the line sought.

S. In a recording system for exchanges, a plurality of liue-contacts, a plurality of connective circuits, a recording mechanism for eaclrconnectivc circuit comprising a recorder and a selector switch, bank contacts in each selector switch for the lines, test contacts associated therewith, means for raising the potential of the multiple contacts of a busy line in the switch l anlts, means for changing the condition of the test contacts corresponding to a busy l line after the same has been selected andits l l telephone number recorded, anddouble testing means associated in the control of each switch, the first test being made of the line-contacts and the second test being made of the test-contacts, a controlling magnet for the switch energized when connection is established with a particulardine through its associated connective circuit, the line testing means respending and becoming i switch when any busy but the second testing means acting to disable the first and prevent the stopping of he switch on busy contacts of other lines than that with which connection has been effected.

9. A recording system for telephone exchanges comprising the following instrumentalities: a selector switch having the recording member D, line-contacts 2 test contacts 2 and a pair of switch-arms cooperating with said contacts, a motor for the switch, a starting magnet controlling the said motor, a test magnet S controlled by said starting member and connected to the second switch-arm, a stopping magnet-S controlled in part by the starting magneteffective to stop the line contact is found,

when energized to stop the motor and change the condition of the test contact upon which the second or test arm is then resting.

10. In a recording system for telephone exchanges, the combination of the following instrumentalities: a plur. y of subscribers lines, a pluralitv of interconnecting or switching circuits, a plurality of selector switches associated therewith, each I switch having a printing member D, a spindle 2 and a pair of test arms 2 and 2 with line-contacts 2 and test contacts :2 1 cooperating with said arms, a motor S for In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

EDWARD E; CLEMENT.

the switch, a, recording magnet V, a starting magnet S energized from the switching circuit when the latter is connected with a line, a test magnet S controlled on one side by the starting magnet, and connected on the other side to the arm 2 and a stopping magnet S controlled jointly by the starting and the test magnets and connected to the switch-arm 2 said recording magnet being Witnesses:

H. WHI'IING, JAMES H. MARK.

1 Bopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, 0. 

